Damon

Jones

“When Damon shoots the ball, I’m happy,’' coach Stan Van Gundy said. Over the last four games, Jones has gone 18-of-31 from three-point range (.580), averaged 17.3 points, handed out 15 assists and committed just two turnovers. His accuracy from the arc could be a financial gain -- teammate Shaquille O’Neal has offered to pay Jones $50,000 if he enters and wins the NBA 3-point shooting contest over All-Star Weekend.

The big losers here are Wesley Person and Rasual Butler at the small forward position. Stan Van Gundy said he did it to give Keyon Dooling more time off the bench as well as to get D. Jones in the lineup. Wade owners should be slightly concerned about the role change, since he was playing so well at the point. In any case, if D. Jones continues to start, he needs to be picked up in fantasy leagues.

Both Jones and Dwayne Wade say they “love” playing together, and for the time being, moving Eddie Jones to small forward appears to have solved the Heat’s problems.

Jones had been struggling from 3-point range, so in the last few games he’s stepped inside the arc to knock down 9-of-16 shots. "[Defenders] are running out extremely hard, and in the last couple of games, I’ve been able to just bob my head a little bit and guys are flying over,” Jones said. “I just think that I have to be a basketball player. I can’t just be a three-point shooter. I have to add versatility to my game.” That should be enough to keep him in the lineup.

Coach Stan Van Gundy hasn’t decided whether he would replace Jones with Keyon Dooling at point guard, or whether he would insert Shandon Anderson at small forward, going with a backcourt of Eddie Jones and Dwayne Wade. Jones should be considered day-to-day.

Jones is shooting just 32 percent over the past 12 games. Rasual Butler or Shandon Anderson would replace him, pushing Eddie Jones and Dwyane Wade back to their old positions.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, however, wasn’t so sure. Consider Jones day-to-day.

The platoon isn’t ideal for fantasy purposes, but it’s working for the Bucks, who are five games above .500. Jones’ assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.20-to-1 is good for No. 2 in the league. He’s averaging 6.2 points and 4.7 assists while playing 22.6 minutes per game. Ford plays 27.4 minutes.

Good to see that the Heat won’t have to rely on Keyon Dooling to back up Dwyane Wade. It’s expected that Jones will earn about $5.2 million over the two seasons.

The Cavs are also talking to point guards Jannero Pargo and Steve Blake. Jones would immediately replace Eric Snow as the starter in Cleveland, but if Pargo or Blake come to town, they would back up Snow.